bookbindings
What holds pages
Bookbindings are the covers and materials that hold a book's pages together—the spine, boards, and covering material that give a book its physical form.
The term encompasses everything from simple paper covers to elaborate leather bindings with gilt edges and decorative tooling.
Collectors and librarians pay close attention to bookbindings when assessing a volume's condition and value: The library's rare books collection includes several medieval manuscripts with original bookbindings intact.
Tanned animal skin
- clothWoven or knit material
- vellumPrepared calfskin for writing
- boardsPlanks or governing bodies
- spineColumn of vertebrae
sewing · signatures · cords · headbands · endpapers · adhesive · thread · awl
Raising designs from surfaces
- debossingStamping designs inward
- gold leafUltra-thin decorative metal
- marbledStreaked with irregular patterns
- inlayEmbedded surface ornamentation
onlay · filigree · jeweled · clasps · bosses · cornerpieces · beveled · lacquered
Rigid-bound book format
- paperbackBook with flexible cover
- codexAncient bound manuscript
- saddle stitchBinding through folded spine
- accordionBellows-driven reed instrument
pamphlet · spiral · comb · dos-a-dos · concertina · Ethiopian
Resistance to wear
- flexibilityAbility to adapt easily
- openingGap or start
- sewnJoined by thread
- gluedFastened with adhesive
stitched · reinforced · protective · dust jacket · slipcase · clamshell · portfolio · archival
Hand-adorned medieval book pages
- medievalOf the Middle Ages
- monasteryReligious seclusion dwelling
- scriptoriumMonastery manuscript workshop
- incunabulaEarliest European printed books
Gutenberg · Renaissance · Victorian · antiquarian · restoration · conservation · provenance · first editions
leather
Tanned animal skin
spine · sewing · signatures · cords · headbands · endpapers · adhesive · thread · awl · pressing
embossing
Raising designs from surfaces
- debossingStamping designs inward
- gold leafUltra-thin decorative metal
- marbledStreaked with irregular patterns
inlay · onlay · filigree · jeweled · clasps · bosses · cornerpieces · beveled · lacquered · ribbon
hardcover
Rigid-bound book format
- paperbackBook with flexible cover
- codexAncient bound manuscript
- saddle stitchBinding through folded spine
accordion · pamphlet · spiral · comb · dos-a-dos · concertina · Ethiopian
durability
Resistance to wear
- flexibilityAbility to adapt easily
- openingGap or start
- sewnJoined by thread
glued · stitched · reinforced · protective · dust jacket · slipcase · clamshell · portfolio · archival · acid-free
illuminated manuscripts
Hand-adorned medieval book pages
- medievalOf the Middle Ages
- monasteryReligious seclusion dwelling
- scriptoriumMonastery manuscript workshop
incunabula · Gutenberg · Renaissance · Victorian · antiquarian · restoration · conservation · provenance · first editions · foxing
- Islamic artIslamic art, Islamic calligraphy, Persian miniatures, arabesque, tilework
- art museumspaintings, The Louvre, galleries, permanent collection, exhibitions
- handcraftssewing, knitting, weaving, pottery, quilts
- ancient documentsscroll, scrolls, papyrus, papyrus scrolls, parchment
- V&ASouth Kensington, decorative arts, Victorian design, William Morris, plaster casts
bookbindingstext
Written or printed words
contents · pages · manuscripts · printed matter · words